11Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. 12The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11-12)
I’ve heard the word “judgement” thrown around a lot of late regarding the situation in Haiti. I’ve heard it said by some people in prominent Bible teaching positions that it was God’s will for Haiti to be destroyed. While I love and respect these teachers, I have a different perspective altogether.
On the third day of creation, the Lord created the dry land, and along with it the principle of seed time and harvest. Although the principle of seed time and harvest governs the plants mentioned in Genesis 1:11-12, it is clearly a principle that governs all of the rest of creation as well. It can be summed up with a simple statement: “Do bad stuff, and bad stuff will happen.”
The principle applies to everything. Redeemed or unredeemed. Saved or unsaved. Kingdom or not. Every human being is bound by the law of seed time and harvest. Every nation, civilized or savage, modern or ancient, has felt the pull of this ancient wisdom. Every major religion recognizes it in one form or another, whether we call it “karma” or “the law of attraction” or “seed time and harvest” makes no difference. It is God’s law.
To say that God willed Haiti to be destroyed flies in the face of scripture. Consider 2 Peter 3:9 where the writer states, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” In light of this statement, must we not conclude that the Lord clearly would not have exerted himself in the destruction of Haiti, since He is not willing that any should perish?
We know that the verse mentioned above from 2 Peter is taken from the context of an exhortation to be watchful for the coming day of the Lord. I believe this is the proper context for understanding judgement versus seed time and harvest. There certainly is a coming day when judgement will be the highest order of business on the Lord’s agenda, but until that final day I believe the Lord to be fully engaged in showering mankind with the great mercy he purchased at Calvary.
And yet, despite my high-minded exposition on the subject of mercy, Haiti lay in ruins. Does this fact counteract my core value declaration that the Lord is always good?
Remember seed time and harvest. Even though God’s agenda is mercy, His laws (of natural order and creation) will not be mocked or usurped. When a city, nation, or people sew seeds of iniquity generation upon generation, the natural law of God will always deliver destruction. It can be seen in the collapse of every major empire in the history of the World. It was demonstrated in New Orleans in 2005. It was demonstrated again in Haiti.
Perhaps this is the “groaning” mentioned in Romans chapter 8? Perhaps the creation itself and its weather patterns and the movements of the rocks of the Earth and the yielding of the fields are all really related to the righteousness of the people?
Is that insensitive to say? That unrighteousness could result in calamity? That God, although He did not actively initiate the calamity, would not step in to stop it? Let us consult the scriptures and draw a history on the topic.
No. I do not believe God judged Haiti. I believe Haiti judged itself by planting seeds of Vodoo and witchcraft and idolotry and nominal Christianity. Let it be a lesson to the rest of us.
I’m not saying I’ve got it all figured out. I’m just saying that I don’t see this type of overt action in the person of Christ until the last day. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
I share that perspective. The day after the quake, I read up on Haiti’s history. It is shameful how cruel and savage the French colonist were to the slaves they imported from Africa. It’s not wonder they turned to Voodoo; they were never given the real Gospel.
Now is the time for the Praying Church to give sacrificially for compassion and outreach. There can be a harvest of souls for the Kingdom or the predecessor to the one-world order will use Haiti as its poster child of Godless humanitarianism.
Excellent point Jeff. The harlot babylon will build its membership on a false justice movement in the last days. Only the authentic justice of the Lord will bear witness of the truth. We have to carry that posture in the church.